Revolver firing action mechanism



March 31, 1970 H. F. HEDGES ETAL 3,

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HUBERT F'- HEDGES RICHARD R. BERGMQNN BY FIG. 2

A TIORNEYS March 31, 1970 HEDGES ET AL 3,503,149

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HUBER? F. #150655 BY RICHARD R-BERGMANN .4 TTORNE Y5 March 31, 1970 H. F. HEDGES ETAL 3,

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS HUBERT F. HEOGES RICHARD R. BERGMANN A T TORNEYS March 31, 1970 E s ETAL 3,503,149

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HUBERT F. "50655 RIC'HARD R. BERGMANN Fl BY March 31, 1970 H. F. HEDGES ETAL 3,503,149

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Ill/BERT F- HEDGES RICHARD R. BERGMANN A T TURNS Y5 March 31, 1970 H. F. HEDGES ETAL 3,503,149

REVOLVER FIRING ACTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Huasm' F. usosss ll momma aasnaunnu A T TORNE Y8 U.S. C]. 42-65 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Firing action mechanism adaptable 'to conventional firing mechanisms, in which the trigger cocking lever and hammer strut are reshaped and new sear, connector and disconnector elements are provided to permit the hammer to be cocked by an initial long pull on the trigger and to remain cocked while the trigger is free to return to its forward position. A second slight pressure on the trigger fires the hammer and the trigger is restrained from further rearward movement during the hammer fall. At the terminal small increment of hammer fall, the trigger restraint is released and it continues rearward to initiate a subsequent firing cycle.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to firing action mechanisms for use in firearms generally, and relates more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in conventional firing action mechanisms, having utility especially in revolver type pistols, for attaining a sequence of operation more conducive to both rapid and accurate sustained fire and in safety mechanisms for such firing action mechanisms.

Conventional revolver type pistols hereinafter referred to as revolvers, have firing actions of a type known as double-action in which a pull on the trigger first cocks the hammer and then a further movement releases it. The operation of such actions requires a strong pull to be exerted on the trigger continuously, or nearly continuously, to the point of hammer release. These revolvers can also be operated in the manner known as singleaction, in which case the hammer is drawn to the cocked position with the thumb and remains in the cocked position until a relatively slight pressure is applied to the trigger. It is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art that proper sight alignment is more'easily maintained during the slight trigger pressure required in single-action firing than during the longer, harder trigger pressure required to cock and fire the pistol in the double-action manner. Therefore, for accurate firing, the double-action revolvers are normally fired in singleaction manner.

It is also well known to those having ordinary skill in the art that in rapid sustained firing of revolvers, cocking the hammer with the thumb is disadvantageous in that it requires valuable time and disturbs the grip of the hand on the revolver, the consistency of the grip being highly critical to accurate firing. It is also well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that the ease of obtaining very rapid fire with double-action firing is preferable for close range comba type firing of the revolver.

Finally, to those skilled in the art it is well known that, due to some slight variance in manufacturing, an occasional cartridge will not be ignited by the initial blow of the firing pin and that in most of these occurrences a second blow will cause ignition. However, in standard double-action firing mechanisms, the cartridge cylinder is automatically indexed by the trigger mechanism each time the revolver is fired. Hence, upon a misfire, it is United States Patent 3,503,149 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ice necessary to index the cylinder a complete revolution to strike a second blow on the faulty cartridge. In competitive target shooting the phrases referred to as timed fire and rapid fire to not generally allow sufiicient time in order to continue indexing the cylinder the required number of indexes to bring the faulty cartridge into battery for another attempt at firing it.

It will thus be seen that the firing action mechanisms presently available have various shortcomings and disadvantages. No single mechanism is available which combines the rapid fire capability of double-action firing with the accuracyof single-action firing. Although some 7 prior attempts have been made to devise a mechanism having such a capability, they have met with inefficiencies and unreliability in operation and have generally been unsuccessful.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism, having utility especially in revolver type pistols, which is efiicient and reliable in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism which combines the rapid fire capability of double-action firing with the accuracy of single-action firing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism which combines the rapid fire capability of double-action firing with the accuracy of single-action firing which may be readily incorporated into existing firing action mechanisms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism that can be fired in the cock-and-squeeze single-action manner by manipulating the trigger only, while maintaining a consistent grip of the hand on the revolver.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved firing action mechanism in which additional blows may quickly be struck with the hammer without indexing the cartridge cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved safety mechanism for firing action mechanisms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved safety mechanism for firing action mechanisms having a source of energy for actuation which is independent of the movement of the trigger element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved safety mechanism having utility especially in a firing action mechanism according to the present invention.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is embodied in a new and improved action and safety mechanism for use particularly in revolver type pistols and adapted to be readily incorporated in conventional firing mechanism.

In the firing action mechanism of the invention, the trigger cocking lever and hammer strut of conventional firing mechanisms have been reshaped, the hammer has further been modified so as to include a notch and recess for a pivotally mounted sear element and a pivot pin for a disconnector element, and a connector element, pivotally mounted to the trigger, is normally urged into releasable connecting engagement with the sear, the connector being disengaged from the sear by the disconnector element.

The shape of the trigger cocking lever and hammer strut and the interrelationship of the sear, connector and disconnector elements with the trigger and hammer is such that upon pivoting the trigger to a far rearward posi-" tion, the hammer is cocked and the sear engages the hammer sear notch to hold the hammer in the cocked position while the trigger is free to return to its original position. During the forward motion of the trigger, the connector element engages the sear and a subsequent, slight rearward pressure of the trigger disengages the sear from the hammer sear notch, firing the cartridge. Continued rearward movement of the trigger is restrained during the hammer fall by a stop provided in the path of rectilinear movement of the connector. At the terminal small increment of hammer fall, the disconnector strikes and disengages the connector from the sear, permitting the trigger to continue to the far rearward position and to initiate a second firing cycle.

The trigger has no corresponding movement when the hammer is cocked with the thumb in single-action firing and the cartridge cylinder consequently is not indexed. Thus, a cartridge in one cylinder may be given successive blows with the hammer without indexing the cylinder for each blow.

The safety mechanism of the invention includes a safety bar spring-pressed to a forward position between the hammer and the revolver frame. A cam-follower resiliently mounted to the safety bar extends laterally therefrom so as to ride in a cam recess provided in the hammer body. The cam recess is adapted to operate the safety bar in response to the pivotal movement of the hammer, driving the safety bar from the forward position to a retracted position as the hammer is pivoted to the cocked position, retaining the safety bar in the retracted position while the hammer remains cocked and during substantially the entire fall of the hammer, and releasing the safety bar during the terminal small increment of the hammer fall so as to permit the safety bar to be again spring-pressed to its forward position.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof. Thus, while the firing action and safety mechanisms of this invention are particularly adapted to and were designed for use in revolver type pislols, and are illustrated as embodied in the firing action mechanism of the Colt and Smith & Wesson revolver models, the principles underlying the operation of the invention are not limited to such usage but are applicable to firearms in general and to other cartridge firing devices However, since the invention is particularly adaptable to I such usage, reference is made thereto herein to provide examples of practical and useful embodiments of the invention. r

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a revolver firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention, embodied in a Colt model revolver, the revolver being shown with the grips and frame side plate removed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 1, illustrating the position of the mechanism prior to a firing actuation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 1, illustrating the position of the mechanism after the trigger has been pulled to its first rearward position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 1, illustrating the position of the mechanism after the trigger has been allowed to return to its forward position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly diagrammatic, of the firing action'mechanism of FIG- URE 1, illustrating the position of the mechanism immediately after a second and very light pressure has been applied to the trigger, the hammer not yet having completed its fall;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of.

the revolver firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention, embodied in a Smith & Wesson model revolver, the mechanism being illustrated in a position prior to a firing actuation thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 6, illustrating the position of the mechanism after the trigger has been pulled to its rearward position;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 6, illustrating the position of the mechanism after the trigger has been allowed to return to its forward position; 7

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the firing action mechanism of FIGURE 6, illustrating the position of the mechanism immediately after a second and very light pressure has been applied to the trigger releasing the hammer, which, as shown, has not yet completed its fall;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of a safety mechanism in accordance with the invention, embodied in a Colt model revolver having a firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged isometric view of the springbiased safety bar of the safety mechanism of FIG- URE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the safety cam of the safety mechanism of FIGURE 10, including a fragmentary diagrammatic illustration of the safety post when the hammer is in the rest position;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of that portion of the hammer which includes the safety cam, and also of the safety bar, illustrating the positions of the safety post as the hammer pivots from the rest position to the cocked position;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary enlarged isometric view of the safety mechanism of FIGURE 10, illustrating the position of the mechanism prior to an actuation of the firing action mechanism;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary, enlarged isometric view, partly diagrammatic, of the safety mechanism of FIGURE 10, illustrating the change in the position of the safety bar when the hammer has been pivoted from the rest position to the cocked position; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary, enlarged isometric view, partly diagrammatic, of the safety mechanism of FIGURE 10, illustrating, in solid lines, the position of the safety mechanism just prior to the end of the hammer fall, and in dotted lines, the position of the safety mechanism at the end of the hammer fall, or in the rest position, whereat the safety bar is positioned between the hammer and the revolver frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 15 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated in FIG- URE 1 a standard Colt model revolver with the grips and side frame plate removed, embodying a firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention.

The construction and firingaction mechanism of a standard or conventional Colt revolver is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and is accordingly incorporated herein by reference. In brief, such a revolver has a frame such as is indicated generally by the reference letter A, to which is attached a barrel C and a pivotable cylinder crane F. A cartridge chamber cylinder B is rotatably mounted on a spindle of the crane and has a plurality of cartridge receiving chambers, each of which can be brought into alignment with the barrel for firing. When the firing action is manipulated, the bolt D is disengaged from the indexing notch in the cylinder while the hand E revolves the cylinder through one index.

In accordance with the invention, a new and improved firing action mechanism is provided which combines the rapid fire capability of double-action firing with the accuracy of single-action firing and which also permits cocking of the hammer without indexing the cylinder.

To this end, as embodied in a standard Colt revolver, as perhaps best seen in the position prior to a firing actuation in enlarged FIGURE 2, the conventional design of a Colt hammer 1 has been modified so as to be provided with a fixed hammer strut 4, a scar recess 8, a sear notch 7, and a disconnector pivot pin and spring 10a. The conventional Colt trigger 25 has been modified so as to be provided with a newly shaped cocking lever 30, a connector pivot pin 24, plunger 21, and plunger spring 22. In addition, there has been added a sear 12, sear stop 14, sear spring 15, connector 17, and disconnector 9.

It is believed that the various positions and functions of the foregoing elements will be best understood by proceeding directly to a description of the operation of the mechanism upon a firing of the revolver.

Thus, referring to FIGURE 3, when the trigger 25 is pulled to its rearward position it pivots about the trigger pivot 26, causing the trigger cocking lever 30 to engage the hammer strut 4 and, in turn, pivot the hammer 1 about the hammer pivot 6, thereby raising hammer 1 to the cocked position shown. At the same time, sear spring urges sear 12 to pivot about the sear pivot 13 thereby causing sear 12 to engage the hammer sear notch 7, to thereby retain hammer 1 in the cooked position. Also simultaneously with the cocking of the hammer, connector 17 moves freely to the rear in the gun frame and disconnector 9 follows the hammer movement in a gradually upwardly direction.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that, upon sear 12 engaging the hammer sear notch 7 and thereby retaining the hammer in the cocked position, trigger 25 may be released and is returned to its forward position by the main spring rebound leaf 23 through the rebound lever operating against the stud 19. Connector 17, being pivotally mounted by means of pin 24 to trigger 25, follows the trigger forward in a corresponding rectilinear movement. At the foremost position of the trigger, connector 17, being urged upwardly by the connector plunger spring 22 through the connector plunger 21, engages the sear base 16 in the connector sear notch 18.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, it will be apparent from the foregoing that, when a second and very slight pres sure is applied to the trigger 25, connector 17 forces the sear base 16 rearwardly, causing sear 12 to pivot about its pivot point 13, thereby disengaging the sear from the hammer sear notch 7, whereby hammer 1 is free to be driven forward by the mainspring hammer leaf 27 through the hammer stirrup 28 about the stirrup pivot 29, and hence, the revolver is fired.

FIGURE 5 shows the mechanism with the hammer (solid lines) in its mid-way or half fallen position. It will be seen that sear 12 has been allowed to pivot just enough to clear the hammer sear notch 7 and is restrained from further movement by sear stop 14. Connector 17, being engaged with the sear base 16, is restrained from further rearward movement and, by reason of its connection to the trigger by means of the connector pivot pin 24, restrains the trigger from further rearward movement.

During the terminal small increment of hammer fall, disconnector 9, being mounted to the hammer by the disconnector pivot pin 10 and having its lower portion urged forwardly against sear 12 by the disconnector spring 10a, is driven downwardly in a corresponding rectilinear movement to thereby strike and disengage the connector sear notch 18 from the sear base 16, freeing the connector and the trigger for the next pull to the rearward position.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when hammer 1 is drawn to its rearward cocked position (FIGURE 4) by pulling on the hammer spur 3 with the thumb, trigger 25 has no corresponding movement and, since those parts of the mechanism which rotate and index the cylinder are attached to and actuated by the trigger in the conventional manner, the cylinder also has no movement. However, sear 12 engages the hammer sear notch 7 and connector 17 engages the base 16 of scar 12 by means of the connector sear notch 18, all in the manner previously described. Thus, by cocking the hammer with the thumb and then applying a slight pressure to the trigger, one specific chamber of the cylinder can be given any number of successive blows of the hammer.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 6-9 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a conventional Smith & Wesson revolver embodying a firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention. The manipulation and operation of this mechanism is the same as that shown and previously described for the Colt mechanism, the difference being in the modification and specific shape of some parts. Thus, parts of similar function are correspondingly numbered, the parts in the Colt mechanism starting with 1 and the corresponding parts in the Smith & Wesson mechanism starting with 101.

As perhaps best seen in FIGURE 6, which shows the mechanism in the position prior to a firing actuation, the conventional design of a Smith & Wesson hammer 101 has been modified so as to be provided with a fixed hammer strut 104, a sear recess 108, a sear notch 107, and a disconnector pivot pin and spring 110a for the newly-added disconnector 109. The conventional Smith & Wesson trigger 125 has been modified so as to be provided With a newly shaped cocking lever 130.

The main difference between the Smith & Wesson adaptation and the Colt adaptation is in the connector, the Smith & Wesson adaptation utilizing the trigger lever 123, pivotally mounted at 124, operating in the conventional manner and a modified rebound slide 117 to function in a combined manner as the connector. Thus, the trigger lever 123 and rebound slide 117, the latter utilizing the rebound slide spring 120 and the rebound slide post 119, operate in the conventional manner to urge trigger to its forward position. The rebound slide, hereinafter referred to as the connector slide, has been modified so as to include a connector slide sear notch 118, a connector slide plunger 121 and a connector slide plunger spring 122.

FIGURES 6 through 9 show the operation of the invention as embodied in the Smith & Wesson revolver in the same respective series of operations as shown in FIGURES 2 through 5 of the embodiment of the invention for the Colt revolver. It will be understood that the similarly named and numbered parts of the Smith & Wesson embodiment perform the same functions and achieve the same objectives as those previously described for the Colt embodiment, and reference is therefore made to such prior description for the detailed operation of the Smith & Wesson embodiment,

The conventional Colt and Smith & Wesson model revolvers have a safety mechanism which prevents accidental discharge should the revolver be dropped or the hammer struck by any extraneous means. In the firing action mechanism of these conventional revolvers, the trigger is in the rearward position at the time of firing. After firing, the mainspring returns the trigger to the forward or at rest position. This remaining energy is utilized to engage the safety, the forward movement of the trigger serving to cam the hammer back sufiiciently to draw the firing pin back into the frame and to actuate linkage attached to the trigger or the hammer so as to drive a small steel block between the hammer and the frame just below the firing pin. The firing action mechanism in accordance with the present invention has no such remaining energy after firing as in the conventional firing mechanisms and the conventional safety mechanisms have therefore been eliminated in the present invention.

In accordance with the invention, a new and improved safety mechanism is provided, having a separate source of energy for actuation, independent of the movement of the trigger element.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 10-16, there is shown a safety mechanism in accordance with the invention, embodied in a standard model Colt revolver embodying a firing action mechanism in accordance with the invention. It will also be understood from the following description that the safety mechanism of the invention may also be utilized in the conventional firing action mechanisms of Colt revolvers, as well as in the firing action mechanisms of other conventional revolvers.

As embodied, the safety mechanism includes a safety bar, indicated generally by reference numeral 41, which moves in a rectilinear direction in safety slot 46, slot 46 being provided in the revolver frame and therefore shown in dotted lines. As best seen in FIGURE 11, safety bar 41 includes a wedged portion 42 at its forward end, an intermediate leaf spring portion 44, and a cam-follower in the form of a safety post 43 extending laterally from the free end of leaf 44.

As best seen in FIGURE 10, safety bar 41 is normally spring-pressed in a generally upwardly direction to a forward position between the hammer 1 and frame A by the safety compression spring 45 mounted in safety slot 46. A safety cam, indicated generally by reference numeral 51, located in the hammer serves to drive the safety bar to a retracted position in slot 46 upon pivoting hammer 1 to the cocked position, to retain the safety bar in such retracted position while the hammer remains cocked and during substantially the entire fall of the hammer, and to release the safety bar just prior to the end of the hammer fall, whereby it is returned by compression spring 45 to its forward position between hammer 1 and frame A.

As here preferably embodied, safety cam 51 includes a safety cocking recess, indicated generally by reference numeral 52 and having a curvilinear cam surface 54; a safety retaining recess, indicated generally by reference numeral 55 and having a cam surface 56 located on the arc of a circle whose center is at the hammer pivot 6; and a safety release recess, indicated generally by reference numeral 57, recess 57 being located parallel to safety slot 46 (see FIGURE 12).

Referring now to FIGURES l4l6, it will be seen that the operation of the safety mechanism is as follows. In the rest or before firing position (FIGURES 10 and 14), the wedge portion 42 of the safety bar 41 is between the hammer 1 and frame A, just beneath the firing pin 2 and the safety post 43 is engaged in the safety cam 51 at the upper end of the release recess 56.

Referring to FIGURE 15, upon pivoting hammer 1 about the hammer pivot 6 in the direction indicated by arrow M, thereby raising the hammer to the cocked position, safety post 43 rides in safety cocking recess 52 in the direction indicated by arrow N, cam surface 54 acting against safety post 43 to thereby drive safety bar 41 downwardly in safety slot 46 in a rectilinear direction indicated by arrow P to its retracted position.

As best seen in FIGURE 13, the bottom 53 of cocking recess '52 is inclined upwardly towards the retaining recess, so that as the safety post 43 rides in the cocking recess, bottom 53 laterally depresses the resiliently mounted safety post 43. Upon reaching the safety retaining recess 55, leaf spring 44 returns post 43 to its normal lateral position with a snap action at the same time that hammer 1 reaches the cooked position, post 43 thereby being positioned behind the safety retaining surface 56 to hold the safety bar in the retracted position while the hammer remains cocked.

Referring now to FIGURE 16, it will be seen that the safety retaining cam surface 56, being an arc of a circle whose center is the hammer pivot 6', retains the safety post 43, and thereby the safety 41, in the retracted position while the hammer remains cocked and during substantially the entire fall of the hammer as it pivots about its pivot 6 in the-direction indicated by arrow R, allowing the hammer to fall against the frame (not shown) and the firing pin 2 to strike the cartridge primer. During the terminal small increment of hammer fall, safety post 43 slides off the safety retaining surface 56 into the safety release recess 57. Safety release recess 57, being parallel to safety slot46 allows the safety spring 45 to drive the safety 41 upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow S. The safety wedge 42 cams the hammer back just enough to return to its original, forward position between the hammer 1 and the frame A, as shown in FIGURES 10 and 14.

It will be understood that the safety mechanism just described equally applies as shown and described to the firing action mechanism of the Smith & Wesson model revolvers, either as embodied herein or as conventionally embodied. The safety slot 46 is in the solid side of the frame of the Colt models and in the detachable side plate portion of the frame of the Smith & Wesson models.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings that the firing action and safety mechanism as embodied herein accomplish the objects of the invention.

While the initial long pull on the trigger cocks the hammer and indexes the cylinder in conventional manner, the hammer is retained in the cocked position by a separate scar and the trigger is thereafter free to be returned to its forward position, at which time a connector links the trigger to the sear. A second and very slight pressure on the trigger disengages the sear from the hammer and causes the hammer to fall, firing the revolver. Thus, the accuracy of single-action firing is achieved by manipulating the trigger only.

After the second slight pressure is applied to the trigger, firing the revolver, an immediate continuous pull on the trigger will again begin the sequence of operation for the firing cycle. Thus, sustained fire can be achieved as rapidly and as easily as with conventional double-action revolvers.

The possibility, in very rapid firing of the revolver, that the continuous pull on the trigger for the second and succeeding firings could begin cocking the hammer before it has completed its fall to fire the cartridge has been eliminated by the disconnector. Thus, after the second and slight pressure is applied to the trigger, the trigger is prevented from continuing rearwardly until the terminal small increment of hammer fall, at which time the disconnector strikes the connector, disengaging the triggers linkage with the sear and allowing the trigger to continue to the rearward position.

When the hammer is cocked with the thumb in the conventional single-action manner the trigger has no corresponding movement and the parts that rotate and index the cylinder are not operated. The hammer merely rises to the cocked position engaging the sear, after which a slight pressure on the trigger will cause the hammer to fall. Thus, a faulty cartridge in one chamber of the cylinder can be given successive blows of the hammer.

The safety mechanism achieves the high degree of safety available where a bar or rod is normally urged to a position between the hammer and revolver frame just below the hammer firing pin and yet is not dependent on a return forward movement of the trigger for energy in order to return to the safety position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a revolver type cartridge firing device having a firing action mechanism including a hammer mounted for pivotal cocking and firing movement and a trigger mounted for pivotal triggering, the improvement therein movement is imparted to said connector to thereby in turn impart a small pivotal movement to said sear, whereby said sear disengages from said hammer sear notch and said hammer falls so as to fire a cartridge;

which comprises: 5 stop means for restraining said sear from continued means for cocking and firing said firing action mechapivotal movement upon disengagement from nism by manipulating the trigger only, including said hammer sear notch and also for restraining a trigger cocking lever, said connector means from further rectilinear a hammer strut, 1O movement, a sear, whereby said trigger is likewise restrained a hammer sear notch, and from further pivotal movement to the rearmeans pivotally mounting and urging said sear ward position; and

against hammer, disconnector means pivotally mounted to said whereby upon pivoting said trigger to a first hammer which strikes and disengages said conrearward position said trigger cocking lever nector from said sear during the terminal small engages said hammer strut to thereby corincrement of the hammer fall, respondingly pivot said hammer toacocked whereby said trigger continues to pivot to position, said sear engages said hammer said first rearward position, beginning a sear notch to retain said hammer in said second and immediate operation of said cocked position, and said trigger cocking lever is thereafter free of said hammer strut to be returned to its original position; connector means pivotally mounted to said trigger,

firing action mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS and means normally urging said connector means into 215,507 5/1879 k et a1 42 65 releasable connecting engagement with said sear g;

when said trigger returns to its original position,

whereby upon pivoting Said trigger through BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner a second, small increment of pivotal move- S. C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner ment, a correspondingly small rectilinear 

